The Giants spent the last few days on a search for depth along their offensive line, namely a player who could be a suitable backup at both guard and tackle.

They settled on John Jerry, who started all 16 games each of the past two years at right guard for the Miami Dolphins. The 27-year-old was a former third-round pick out of Mississippi.

The move comes as a surprise to some around the league who thought Jerry, one of a few players named in the Ted Wells report for "engaging in a pattern of harassment" toward Jonathan Martin, might not get a second chance following his association with Mike Pouncey and Richie Incognito.

• He was the first to target Martin with name-calling at the beginning of the 2012 season, frequently calling him “b----.” When Martin didn’t push back on the language, it escalated.

• Telling Martin that he wanted to have sex with his mother and sister at the same time. Jerry was often the worst offender when it came to Martin’s sister, Wells said, “because once Jerry got started he often kept going incessantly.”

• Jerry would regularly demean Martin in front of teammates from other units, which Martin believed was intended to embarrass him.

• Taunting Martin for not being “black enough.”

• Touching former Dolphins lineman Andrew McDonald’s buttocks in a way that simulated anal penetration. (Jerry denied that this happened.)

"We did our homework on John, like we do with every player we sign," general manager Jerry Reese said in a statement released by the team. "We were satisfied with the answers we got about John as a player and person."

Reese had not previously commented on any of the team's signings.

He was one of the lowest-rated guards among every day starters, according to the objective analytical site Pro Football Focus, and was credited with surrendering five quarterback sacks and 16 hurries.

The Giants, though, are in the market for healthy and versatile offensive lineman. With Chris Snee coming off a hip surgery, J.D. Walton recovering from a major ankle issue in 2012 and Will Beatty playing after a broken leg, they will need all the help they can get.